BILL HUTCHISON FOUNDATION PATRONS

Rev. Tim Costello

Tim Costello has long been the voice of social conscience for many Australians, having led debates on domestic issues such as gambling, urban poverty, homelessness, reconciliation and substance abuse. Rev Costello is a sought-after public speaker and every year addresses thousands of people from diverse backgrounds. Since February 2004, he has been the Chief Executive of World Vision, Australia’s largest overseas aid organization. In this role, Tim has witnessed the worst of humanitarian disasters and seen the most inspiring human responses to suffering.

Tim studied law and education at Monash University, then theology at the International Baptist Seminary Rueschlikon, Switzerland, and a Masters in Theology at the Melbourne College of Divinity. After ordination as a Baptist Minister in 1984, he established a vibrant and socially active ministry at St Kilda Baptist Church between 1986 and 1994. In 1993 he demonstrated his commitment to serving the community by successfully running for Mayor of St Kilda.

From 1995 to 2004, Tim was Minister at Collins Street Baptist Church and Executive Director of Urban Seed, a Christian not-for-profit outreach service for the urban poor. In addition, between 1999 and 2002 he was National President of the Baptist Union of Australia. In 2004, Tim was named Victorian of the Year; in 2005 was the Victorian Australian of the Year, and was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO), for “service to the community through contributions to social justice, health and welfare issues, international development assistance, and to the Baptist Church”.

Tim and his wife, Merridie, have three adult children: Claire, Elliot and Martin.

Jeff Kennett

Jeff Kennett was elected Leader of the Opposition in October, 1982. Under his leadership, the Victorian Coalition was elected to government on October 3 1992, with two-to-one majorities in both Houses of Parliament -- a position unparalleled in almost 140 years of responsible State Government in Victoria. In the government’s first term, Mr Kennett held the positions of Premier and Minister for Ethnic Affairs. The Coalition was returned to office at the March 1996 election with a net gain in representation across both Houses of Parliament.

Jeff continued as Premier, as well as serving as Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Minister for the Arts. He headed the government’s peak industry organisations - the Ministerial Industry Council, Premier’s Business Round Table, Victorian Communications and Multimedia Task Force and Food Victoria, and chaired the Science, Engineering and Technology Task Force.

Under his Premiership, Victoria earned the reputation as Australia’s most reformist government.

Jeff is currently the Chairman of:  Beyondblue (National Depression Initiative), Australian Seniors Finance, Jumbuck Entertainment Limited, Q Limited and Open Windows Australia Limited.

Bill Noonan

Bill Noonan was born in Yarraville in 1942 and now lives in Greensborough. He is married to Colleen and they have two adult children, Lisa and Wade.

After working for several years as a transport driver, he was elected to the Transport Workers Union Branch Committee of Management in 1970. He became a full-time elected official of the TWU in 1974 and has been an elected official ever since except for 1989-92, when he served as a Member of the WorkCover Appeals Board.

Bill was elected as TWU Victorian Branch Secretary in 1994. The Branch is now officially the Victorian/Tasmanian Branch. He has also served a term as Federal President of the Union.

He holds several positions relating directly to his union role, including Director of the TWU Superannuation Fund, Member of the VicRoads Advisory Board and Director of the Institute of Breathing and Sleep which studies fatigue and sleep deprivation.

In a personal capacity he is Deputy Chairman of the Blue Ribbon Foundation and a former President of Victorian Road Runners. He remains a loyal supporter of the Western Bulldogs.

A/Prof. Michael Carr-Gregg

Michael Carr-Gregg is one of Australia's highest profile psychologists. Author of four books, and currently working on his fifth, he works at the Albert Road Centre for Health in Melbourne. He is an official ambassador for the National Depression Initiative Beyondblue as well as Mindmatters. Michael is Consultant Psychologist to many organisations including the Victorian Secondary Schools Principal's Association, the Australian Boarding Staff Association, the Australian Ballet School, St Catherine's College and Melbourne Girls College.

In 1985, he founded the world's first national teenage cancer patients support group, Canteen - The Australian Teenage Cancer Patient's Society. He has held a variety of appointments including Executive Director of the New Zealand Drug Foundation, Director of the Centre for Social Health and in 1996 was appointed an Associate Professor in the Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne.

Michael has received a number of awards including the Australian Jaycees Outstanding Young Australian of the Year (1987) and in 1997, he was made a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International in recognition of his work in the prevention of youth suicide.

Michael has extensive experience in the media and is currently a regular on the top rating Sunrise on Channel 7 and is a regular radio psychologist on Melbourne radio. In 2002 Michael was asked to be the official psychologist to Girlfriend Magazine, the best selling magazine for young women in Australia. In 2003 he was one of the founding members of the National Coalition Against Bullying and became one of their national spokespersons. He also served on the advisory committee for the Federal Government's Boys' Education Lighthouse School Programme.

Joan Kirner

The first woman Premier of Victoria, Joan Kirner is a passionate believer in community action. Born into a working class family who felt that a good education was the basis for building a future, she graduated from Melbourne University in 1958 and began working as a teacher. She married in 1960 and had three children, and it was their education that started Joan on her political career.

Bill Kelty

Director Linfox Group. Director Australian Retirement Fund. Director Hotel Leisure & Tourism Trust of Australia. Director Bank of Queensland. Chair Virtual Communities Pty Ltd. Chairman AFL SportsReady Ltd. Member AFLPA Education & Training Board. Member Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal.

Member Australians for Just Refugee Program. Trustee Linfox Classic Car Collection. Chair Ethical Clothing Trades Council of Victoria. Former secretary ACTU. Former director Reserve Bank of Australia. Former chairman Commonwealth Government Regional Development Taskforce. Former member National Employment & Training Taskforce. Former director Superannuation Trust of Australia. Bachelor of Economics, LaTrobe University. Non-executive AFL Commissioner appointed 1998.